LOVE IN THE DARK | MAX VERSTAPPEN

Part 17

Sharing a bed with Max is going to be incredibly hard. One because he looks far too good right now and two because for the past week or so I've been suffering with night terrors. I keep having the same dream over and over again. I keep dreaming that someone is following me. They follow me home and kill me in front of Noah. It's scary, I didn't realise how much being threatened by Jos has really affected me. I know that I am stronger than this and that I'm being pathetic. I just need to toughen up. I know that he can't get anywhere near me but my brain can't seem to comprehend that useful piece of information at the moment.
I've taken the longest time possible to get ready because I know Max will be sweating at the thought of being late. He hates being late, he has to either be on time or early, for any event that he's attending. I'm being a brat this weekend and I don't care. I didn't even want to come here. I head out of the bathroom to find Max staring back at me. He looks me up and down biting his lip. Winner. Exactly the reaction I was looking for.
"My eyes are up here Verstappen, are you ready to go?" He doesn't say a word he just nods his head as he opens the door leading me out of the room. This is going to be a long night. At least I can entertain myself by teasing and annoying Max for the majority of it.

Izzy Verstappen

izzyverstappen: Life's too good for bad energy ✨
(The sign in the back is a paid actor 🫶)

Liked by danielricciardo, angiebaert, maxverstappen1 & 544 others

danielricciardo: That dress looks better on you than it would have done on me 🙌😂
angiebaert: WOW! 🤩 does Max know how to fight?? 😮‍💨
jennymarquez: Beautiful 🥰❤️
maxverstappen1: 😍😍😍

Max keeps a tight hold of my hand as we walk into the building, he stops and says hello to each person we walk past. He's a social yapping butterfly. Christian is stood at the front alongside Geri, Checo and Carola.
"I know you don't want to be here and I'm grateful that you are but please change your facial expressions. You're looking at Christian like you want to go for his throat." I stare at Max before rolling my eyes. "Yeah well he didn't believe me either did he? In fact the only person here who did was Checo, so pardon me for not wanting to be fake and smiley." Max's grip on my hand tightens as we walk towards Christian.
"Max, Izzy, it's lovely to see you both. Thank you for coming I know it's been a difficult time for you both recently. We appreciate it." Shove your appreciation where the sun doesn't shine Horner. I put on my best smile before turning to Checo. Leaving Max to talk to Christian. "Hi you two, it's lovely to see you both. It's very rare I get to see you anymore Carola you look gorgeous." She pulls me into a hug as she smiles "Thank you so do you! It's lovely to see you, it's hard finding time to attend races now with the children. You must know that yourself with Noah." I smile because the mention of Noah's name makes my heart swell. The love I have for that boy is unmatched. "Yeah he's only attended one race but he enjoyed it." We chat for a few more minutes before Checo is pulled away. Max is still yapping away to sponsors so I decide to head to the bar.

I would have thought that you'd get better service at an event like this, I've been stood here ages. I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a voice coming from beside me.
"Are you okay? You look lost." I turn to see a man who I'm assuming is part of the Red Bull team standing next to me.
"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just trying to get a Gin Tonic but no one seems to have noticed me yet." He smiles at me as he calls over one of the bar staff. "I don't know how they haven't noticed a stunning woman like you but I'll sort it for you, I'm Joe by the way Joe Mendez." Why's he introducing himself like he's James Bond. Jesus Christ. He holds his hand out to me as I awkwardly shake it "Thank you, I'm Izzy, erm Izzy Verstappen." His eyes widen as he hands me my drink. "Verstappen as in Max Verstappen? Please tell me you're his sister." I laugh as a hand comes around my waist and I look up to see Max looking like he wants to have this poor guy by the throat. "No mate, she's my wife. I appreciate you helping her but maybe next time don't try and flirt with someone who's visibly wearing a wedding ring. Dick head." Max pulls me into his side before turning and guiding us away from the bar.
"What was all that about? Fuck me izzy, if you want to flirt with other people at least do it where I can't see because I fucking hate it." I stop as I turn to look at him. God he's hot when he's angry. "I wasn't flirting with him, he's not my type. My type and only my type is the person I'm staring at right now." Max bites his lip as he brings his face closer to mine. "Fuck I wish we could get out of here right now but I've got a few more people to talk too." I nod my head as I pull away. "We can always say I'm unwell, you know heart issues and all that." He looks at me before looking back towards Christian. "I don't condone this kind of lying especially not when it comes to your health but I can't take much more of this. Fuck it. Let's go." He grabs my hands as he walks us through the hall and out of the back door.
Fighting to keep each other's clothes on before we even get into the hotel room was a challenge. I haven't been anywhere near this man for months and my god did he make up for it. I might regret this in the morning because this was not supposed to happen. We're not even together anymore. We don't even live in the same country. Fucking hell I just make everything a thousand times more complicated for myself. Every single time.
I fall asleep in Max's arms for the first time in what feels like forever. This is the first time in weeks that i have managed to fall asleep straight away. It normally takes me about 5 hours of tossing and turning before I even drift off to sleep. Whenever I'm with Max I feel safe. He's my safe place.
Clearly not safe enough as I'm woken up to the sound of Max's voice as he's gently grabbing my arms as I'm fighting to get him away.
"Izzy, fucking hell, Izzy listen to me you're okay, it's all good. I'm here you're fine. Breathe with me, take some deep breaths you're okay. I promise I've got you." It takes me a moment to realise what is happening. I am sweating and my heart is beating out of my chest. I was hoping these dreams would stop. At least for one night.
Max is currently standing in front of me looking increasingly concerned by the second.
"I'm sorry Max, I must have had a nightmare or something. I'm sorry I didn't mean to worry you I'm fine now get back into bed." He shakes his head as he sits beside me putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.
"No, you was screaming Izzy, you were shouting for them to stop, you were calling out Noah's name. You looked genuinely petrified. What's going on?" I'm not getting into this with Max now. He will have me sat in front of a therapist within the space of an hour. It's not worth it.
"Nothing is going on, it was just a stupid nightmare. Let's just go back to sleep. I'm sorry for waking you." He stands up as he starts pacing the room running his hands through his hair.
"Is this because of me? Is it because I'm here with you?" I shake my head "No of course not please just drop it."
He glares at me as he sits beside me on the edge of the bed. "I'm not dropping this, you either tell me everything that's going on up there in that head of yours or we call it a day and end it now because I can't fix this if you're not willing to let me in." I sit and stare at the wall trying to comprehend the words that he's just said to me. Part of me knows he is right but the other half is fighting to tell him that maybe Jos is right, maybe he is better off without me. I am sick of feeling like this. I'm hurting and I'm scared. I look back at Max as a tear rolls down my cheek. I take off my wedding ring and place it into his hand.
"Okay then, end it."
Max turns to look at me as he gently wipes the tear from my face before forcing the ring back onto my finger.
"Over my dead body. I was calling your bluff schatje. I love you more than anything in this world so you better start talking or I swear to god neither of us are leaving this room."
Max willingly walked away from me once but he's clearly showing me right now that he will never be willing to do that again. This is the man that I married and it's time to start opening up and letting him in. I will never love anyone as much as I love him. I just hope he's prepared to listen to what his dad said about his wife. I just know that he isn't going to take it well at all. Welcome back Mad Max.